DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed 06/29/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-19 are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections – 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3 and 5-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chen (US 2019/0215460).
Chen was submitted in an IDS dated 07/14/2023.
Regarding claim 1, Chen teaches a method of configuring a lighting system, the lighting system comprising a lighting control device and a memory, the lighting control device having a user input element configured to receive a user input from a user, the user input element having an icon indicative of a control function of the lighting system (Figs. 1-4, [0018-0026], Chen describes a system with light devices, user interfaces, a computing device and an image capture device e.g., see figures; [0026-0027], the computing device can include a memory; there is a lighting control device/subsystem that includes a user interface e.g., user interface 340 in Fig. 3; the user interface can include, for example, a substrate and a symbol/icon applied to it; [0029-0031, 0038-0040], each symbol is associated with a function e.g., a lighting control function; in one embodiment, a user might gesture over and select a symbol/user interface to activate the function) the method comprising:
obtaining an image comprising the lighting control device ([0025], an image capture device e.g., any suitable, distinct device capable of capturing digital images, can be used to capture an image of the user interface),
analyzing the image ([0026], the computing device analyzes the images from the image capture device),
identifying the user input element in the image ([0029-0031, Fig. 6, [0036-0044], the system identifies a symbol/user interface as being a known symbol/user interface pertaining to a particular function; [0019], for example, the system identifies the symbol/user interface as having a particular orientation, which affects the function of the user interface e.g., the symbol/UI may be oriented towards an area to illuminate or other reference point)
identifying the icon that has been applied to the user input element ([0029-0031], the computing device processes the images to detect the symbols, or to determine if a symbol has changed; the system determines whether the detected symbol matches a known symbol; a memory/database can store information on the known symbols; Fig. 6, [0036-0044], the system can then perform a function associated with the symbol e.g., adjust the intensity of a light from a lighting device; turn on and off a light; change a direction of a light towards a particular area; change a temperature/color of a light etc.),
determining the control function of the identified icon,
configuring the lighting system by associating the control function with the user input element and storing an association between the control function and the user input element in the memory, such that when the user input element is activated by the user after configuring, one or more lighting units of the lighting system are controlled based on the stored association and in accordance with the control function associated with the user input element ([0029-0031], the computing device processes the images to detect the symbols, or to determine if a symbol has changed; the system determines whether the detected symbol matches a known symbol; a memory/database can store information on the known symbols, and also inherently stores any determination relating to matching the symbol and an associated control function; Fig. 6, [0036-0044], the system can then perform a function associated with the symbol e.g., adjust the intensity of a light from a lighting device; turn on and off a light; change a direction of a light towards a particular area; change a temperature/color of a light etc.)
Regarding claim 2, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein the control function of the identified icon is related to an area of the lighting system, and wherein the lighting system is configured by associating the area with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units located in the area are controlled ([0023, 0036-0044], when the system identifies a symbol or detects that a symbol has changed, light may be projected toward an associated area; for example, the direction of light might be aimed at a particular area; position of light may be customized; in another example, light for a particular area e.g., near where the symbol is positioned, may be provided).
Regarding claim 3, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein the control function of the identified icon is related to a light setting, and wherein the lighting system is configured by associating the light setting with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units of the lighting system are controlled according to the light setting ([0036], the UI symbol may cause particular lighting settings to be implemented e.g., beam direction, different modes e.g., for reading and television, a particular intensity or temperature; [0022], control of the light can include various settings e.g., on/off, intensity, color, color temperature etc.).
Regarding claim 5, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein the control function of the icon is related to a type of lighting unit, and wherein the lighting system is configured by associating the type of lighting unit with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units of the type are controlled (Chen naturally associates a function with a type of lighting unit e.g., one that is capable of controlling color or other lighting settings e.g., see [0022,00 41]; for example, the symbol can be used to control a type of light to direct light in a specific direction e.g., see [0023]; as noted in [0043, 0044], the lighting device may be controlled in response to a user performing a gesture selecting a symbol; [0042], the symbol can be used to control a type of lighting device that is capable of steadily increasing a parameter like intensity.
Regarding claim 6, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein the icon has been applied to the user input element by a user ([0019], a symbol can be applied or printed onto a substrate).
Regarding claim 7, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein the lighting control device comprises a second user input element comprising a second icon indicative of a second control function, wherein the method comprises:
identifying the second user input element in the image,
identifying the second icon that has been applied to the second user input element,
determining the second control function of the identified second icon,
configuring the lighting system by associating the second control function with the second user input element, such that when the second user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units of the lighting system are controlled in accordance with the second control function (Figs. 7, 5 [0043, 0044, 0048], there may be multiple selectable symbols, and a user may gesture to select any of the symbols, thereby performing a lighting control function at a lighting device; for example, there may be two arrow head symbols, and a user can gesture over one or the other to cause a light intensity for a lighting device to increase or decrease; see also [0036]).
Regarding claim 8, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 7. Chen also teaches wherein the steps of identifying the user input element and the second user input element comprises:
determining an orientation of the lighting control device, and
identifying the user input elements in the image based on the orientation of the lighting control device ([0019, 0036], a symbol can have distinct control functions depending on the particular orientation of an object that includes the symbol; for example, a symbol may contain directional information i.e., may be an arrow oriented or pointed in such a way as to indicate a light source to be controlled).
Regarding claim 9, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein the user input element comprises a plurality of icons, each indicative of a respective control function, and wherein the lighting system is configured by associating the plurality of control functions with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units of the lighting system are controlled in accordance with the plurality of control functions (Fig. 5, [0038, 0043-0044], in some embodiments, a UI can include multiple symbols; each symbol is associated with a function; a user activates the UI by selecting symbols (e.g., by gesturing over one), then a light system is controlled accordingly).
Regarding claim 10, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein the step of determining the control function of the identified icon comprises:
accessing a memory, the memory storing associations between icons and control functions, and
comparing the identified icon with the stored icons, and
selecting, based on the comparison, for the identified icon a respective control function (Fig. 6, [0031] describes a memory and database that stores symbols and controls functions associated respectively with the symbols; when the system recognizes a symbol, the system analyzes the database i.e., compares against the stored symbols, to determine the associated function).
Regarding claim 11, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein the method further comprises:
obtaining a second image captured by the camera, the second image capturing the
lighting control device,
analyzing the second image,
identifying the user input element in the second image,
identifying a new icon on the user input element,
determining that the new icon has replaced the icon that was previously located on the user input element,
determining a new control function of the identified new icon, and
configuring the lighting system by associating the new control function with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by a user, one or more lighting units of the lighting system are controlled in accordance with the new control function ([0041, 0030-0031, 0026], the system can capture images of symbols; at a certain point, the system can capture an image of a symbol and determines whether a change/replacement has occurred in one of the symbols; if the symbol is new and/or an old symbol has been changed, then an associated control function is determined for the new symbol and the function is performed).
Regarding claim 12, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program code to perform the method of claim 1 when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of the computing device (Fig. 1, [0018, 0026, 0027] describes a processor and memory with programs/modules).
Regarding claim 13, the claim corresponds to claim 1 and is rejected for the same reasons. Chen also teaches a controller for configuring a lighting system (Fig. 1, [0018, 0026, 0027] describes a processor and memory with programs/modules).
Regarding claim 14, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 13. Chen also teaches
a plurality of icons attachable to the user input element by a user, wherein the icons are indicative of respective control functions of the lighting system ([0019], symbols can be printed or applied to a substrate; each symbol can be associated with a control function), and
one or more lighting units ([0036], one or more light sources may be controlled).
Regarding claim 15, the claim corresponds to claim 14 and is rejected for the same reasons. Chen also teaches
a kit of parts (Fig. 1, [0018] describes a set of tools/mechanisms for controlling lighting devices i.e., the system illustrated in Fig. 1);
a computer program product for a computing device, the computer program product comprising computer program code to perform, when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of the computing device ((Fig. 1, [0018, 0026, 0027] describes a processor and memory with programs/modules).
Regarding claim 16, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein determining the control function of the identified icon comprises applying an image recognition technique to the icon in the image to determine the control function of the icon (Chen [0029-0031], symbol recognition techniques are used to determine a corresponding control operation.)
Regarding claim 17, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches wherein identifying the user input element in the image comprises determining an orientation of the lighting control device by detecting, in the image, a surface feature of the lighting control device, and identifying the user input element based on the determined orientation ([0019, 0036], a symbol can have distinct control functions depending on the particular orientation of an object that includes the symbol; for example, a symbol may contain directional information i.e., may be an arrow oriented or pointed in such a way as to indicate a light source to be controlled; a symbol with an orientation can be understood as a "surface feature.")
Regarding claim 18, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein the user input element comprises a first icon indicative of an area of the lighting system and a second icon indicative of a light setting, and
wherein configuring the lighting system comprises associating both the area and the light setting with the user input element, such that when the user input element is activated by the user, one or more lighting units located in the area are controlled according to the light setting (Chen Fig. 5, [0038] teaches a user input element with multiple symbols i.e., icons; Chen [0041-44] teaches that gesturing towards a discrete action symbol e.g., an on/off symbol, could cause a light to turn on or off; thus, inherently, such an on/off symbol is associated with an area i.e., it is associated with the area of a lighting device or an area that the lighting device illuminates; see also rejection of claim 2; additionally, the user input element can include a light setting icon/symbol e.g., an intensity setting, which when gestured at can adjust the intensity of light e.g., see Chen [0044].)
Regarding claim 19, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 1. Chen also teaches
wherein the icon is an attachable icon that has been attached to the user input element by the user, and
wherein, after the configuring, the one or more lighting units are controlled in accordance with the control function in response to the user activating the user input element, the control function being retrieved from the memory based on the stored association. (Figs. 7, 5 [0043, 0044, 0048], there may be multiple selectable symbols, and a user may gesture to select any of the symbols, thereby performing a lighting control function at a lighting device; for example, there may be two arrow head symbols, and a user can gesture over one or the other to cause a light intensity for a lighting device to increase or decrease; see also [0036]).
Claim Rejections – 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as unpatentable over Chen in view of Weiss (US 2020/0125036).
Regarding claim 4, Chen teaches the invention as claimed in claim 3. However, Chen does not expressly disclose wherein a color of the icon is indicative of a color of the light setting.
In the same field of endeavor, Weiss teaches wherein a color of the icon is indicative of a color of the light setting (Fig. 7a, 7b, [101-105], it is known for a GUI to provide icons of various colors, which can be associated with controlling a device to generate light of those colors).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have incorporated wherein a color of the icon is indicative of a color of the light setting as suggested in Weiss into Chen because Chen and Weiss pertain to analogous fields of technology. Both Chen and Weiss relate to systems which use symbols/icons and associates them with the control of a lighting device. In Weiss, the color of the symbol/icon indicates the color of the corresponding light that is generated. It would be desirable to incorporate this feature into Chen, so that the same useful and intuitive color correlation could be utilized in the context of the Chen invention e.g., see Weiss Fig. 7a, 7b, [101-105].
Response to Arguments
The Examiner acknowledges the Applicant's amendments to claims 1, 13 and 15. Regarding claim 1, Applicant alleges that Chen does not teach the limitations, "associating the control function with the user input element" or "storing an association between the control function and the user input element in the memory, such that when the user input element is activated by the user after configuring, one or more lighting units ... are controlled based on the stored association."
Examiner respectfully disagrees. Chen [0029-0031] teaches that the system captures images, analyzes them to recognize particular symbols or gestures towards symbols, and then controls a lighting system accordingly. For example, in this configuration operation, the system may consult a database or a machine learning model to determine an association between a known image and a captured image. When this determination is made, it is inherently stored in memory, processed and used to trigger a lighting operation e.g., see Chen Fig. 7, [0041-0044]. The above appears to teach the limitations, "associating the control function with the user input element" or "storing an association between the control function and the user input element in the memory, such that when the user input element is activated by the user after configuring, one or more lighting units ... are controlled based on the stored association."
In the view of the Examiner, Chen may be interpreted to read on the above limitations in another respect as well. As noted earlier, the lighting system of Chen stores associations between user input elements/symbols and lighting operations. This storage and configuration was inherently performed at some point before gestures are used to operate the lighting system. The above also teaches the limitation, ""associating the control function with the user input element" or "storing an association between the control function and the user input element in the memory, such that when the user input element is activated by the user after configuring, one or more lighting units ... are controlled based on the stored association."
It should be further noted that claim 1 recites "after configuring"; however, this may be understood as any configuring of any kind, and not necessarily the configuring operation of claim 1.
Applicant alleges the claims 13 and 15 are allowable in view of their similarityy to claim 1. Claims 13 and 15 are likewise rejected based on Chen.
Applicant further alleges that claims 2-12, 14 and 16-29 are allowable in view of their dependency on claims 1 and 13. Claims 2-12, 14 and 16-29 are rejected as being taught by Chen and/or Weiss.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hyatt (US 2022/0005183) teaches a system that adjust lighting based on an item being imaged e.g., see Hyatt [0070].
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC YOON whose telephone number is (408)918-7581. The examiner can normally be reached on 9 am to 5 pm ET Monday through Friday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Scott Baderman, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-3644. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/ERIC J YOON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2118
Prosecution Insights